H4895 is safe for reduced loads (see the youth loads at Hodgdon's web site), but I would start at the min and if it functions, you're good to go. I don't know if the youth loads will produce enough gas to operate the rifle.

Here's a tip I use for milder loads in my own .308: Open your load manual to the pages for the good old .300 Savage and use those loads. Lower pressures mean lower recoil, lower blast, and lower working loads on your semi-auto. Nobody ever said a shot from a .300 Savage bounced off their deer.

Here's a tip I use for milder loads in my own .308: Open your load manual to the pages for the good old .300 Savage and use those loads. Lower pressures mean lower recoil, lower blast, and lower working loads on your semi-auto. Nobody ever said a shot from a .300 Savage bounced off their deer.

I never thought of that one, thanks!
I might even end up loading .300 savage for my grandfathers old savage 99.